COVID-19 pandemic: A timeline of key milestones
The COVID-19 pandemic has killed over 1.77 million people, with 81.2 million cases globally. - Astro AWANI
2020 marks the year the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, a virus that has killed over 1.77 million people, with 81.2 million cases globally.
To recap what we have been through, here are some key milestones:
31 December 2019 - first public message about the virus
China’s World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Office picked up a media statement by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission from their website on cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan.
9 January – coronavirus confirmed by Chinese authorities
WHO reported that Chinese authorities have determined that the outbreak is caused by a novel coronavirus.
11 January – first death
The first death from the virus was reported by the Chinese media. The 61-year-old man was a regular customer at the Huanan Seafood Market, Wuhan and had underlying health condition
A blocked entrance to Huanan seafood market, where the coronavirus that can cause COVID-19 is believed to have first surfaced, is seen in Wuhan, Hubei province, China March 30, 2020. Picture taken March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
24 January – first case detected in Malaysia
Eight Chinese nationals were quarantined at a hotel in Johor Bahru on Jan 24 after being in close contact with an infected person in Singapore. Three of them were confirmed to be infected on Jan 25 and later quarantined at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor.
5 February – passengers aboard the Diamond Cruise Ship quarantined
The Japanese Government asked 3,600 passengers aboard the Diamond Princess Cruise ship to undergo a 14 day quarantine at the Yokohama port after a passenger was tested positive. The news attracted global attention as more and more passengers tested positive.
By Feb 23, 691 cases of the COVID-19 infection had been confirmed among passengers.
The cruise ship Diamond Princess is docked at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Sadayuki Goto/Kyodo News via AP
7 February – the death of Chinese whistleblower, Li Wenliang.
A Chinese doctor who tried to issue the first warning about the deadly coronavirus died after contracting the virus while working at Wuhan Central Hospital.
A makeshift memorial for Li Wenliang, a doctor who issued an early warning about the coronavirus outbreak before it was officially recognized, is seen after Li died of the virus, at an entrance to the Central Hospital of Wuhan in Hubei province, China February 7, 2020. REUTERS/Stringer
11 February – COVID-19 official name
WHO announced an official name for the coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19.
In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, it was referred to as '2019 novel coronavirus' or '2019-nCoV.'
March 11 – the COVID-19 pandemic and celebrities getting COVID-19
WHO announced that the COVID-19 can officially be described as a pandemic due to the rapid increase in the number of cases globally
At the same time, Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, caught the virus while travelling for work, marking Hollywood’s first high-profile case of the outbreak.
Throughout the year several artists have also joined the list including Idris Elba, Pink, and Ellen DeGeneres along with athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Mo Salah and Lewis Hamilton.
March 12 – first Malaysian linked to Tabligh Cluster
Malaysia experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases following a four-day Tabligh Jamaat event that was held at Kuala Lumpur's Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling between Feb 27 and March 1, with over 16,000 attendees.
The first Malaysian linked to the cluster was detected on March 12 and by the end of the month, nearly half of the country's COVID-19 cases had been linked to the Sri Petaling tabligh cluster.
The second biggest cluster in Malaysia ended on July 8, after 3,375 people tested positive and 34 deaths.
Participant of the Tabligh Jamaat event getting tested for COVID-19. - Facebook/ Noor Hisham Abdullah
March 16 – announcement of Movement Control Order (MCO)
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government would be imposing a nationwide lockdown known as the Movement Control Order (MCO) starting March 18.
The MCO brought out the best with Malaysians helping the needy and also frontliners by sewing personal protective equipments and making face shields under the motto #KitaJagaKita
It also introduced us to the official COVID-19 drink, the Dalgona coffee.
March 17 – first deaths in Malaysia
Malaysia reported its first two deaths from COVID-19, a 60-year-old priest from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kuching, Sarawak and a 34-year-old from the Tabligh cluster
March 24 – Tokyo Olympics postponed
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be postponed.
The games are now scheduled to open July 23, 2021, and close Aug 8, 2021.
Workers reinstall giant Olympic rings at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park, after they were temporarily taken down in August for maintenance amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan December 1, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
March 27 – World leaders tested positive
Boris Johnson was among the first notable world leaders to have tested positive for the virus.
Others include, Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron and United States president Donald Trump.
April 2 – cases hit one million
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide hits one million with more than 51,000 confirmed deaths.
April 18 – One World Concert
Performers joined hands for a star-studded event, One World: Together At Home, a virtual concert curated by Lady Gaga celebrating healthcare workers on the frontline.
23 April – vaccine trials
The first human trial in Europe for a COVID-19 vaccine began in Oxford. Two volunteers were injected, the first of more than 800 people recruited for the study.
1 May – Malaysia implements several lockdown measures
A gradual easing of restrictions was implemented with the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) on May 1, which allows most businesses to open, followed by a Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) from 10 June.
In October, the government reintroduced the CMCO to several states following a third wave of COVID-19 infections.
May 15 – death toll continues to rise
The official global coronavirus death toll passes 300,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, with 4.4 million confirmed cases worldwide.
1 July – egg-cellent news
Malaysia reached a milestone when it reported zero COVID-19 local transmissions since March on July 1 and again on July 8.
15 July – COVAX facility
The COVAX Facility established by WHO to guarantee rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide have secured engagement from more than 150 countries.
16 August – D614G type mutation detected
Malaysian Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that the D614G type mutation was detected.
The D614G strain, emerging first in Europe, is said to replicate faster and is more transmissible than the virus, originating in China that spread in the beginning of the pandemic.
28 September – One million deaths
The world reached one million recorded deaths from COVID-19 with the United States, Brazil and India making up nearly half of the total, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Relatives pray before the cremation of a woman, who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, July 8, 2020. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui
1 October – “third wave” outbreak from Sabah
Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that 118 of the 260 new cases reported had occurred in Sabah while 31 cases reported in other Malaysian states were linked to travel in Sabah.
Travels were widespread in the region due to the Sabah state election that occurred on September 26. Many criticised the handling of the election that led to the latest wave of COVID-19 infections in the country.
By October 24, Malaysia recorded a record-breaking 1,228 cases, the highest at the time, 889 of which were from Sabah.
13 October – Malaysia announced MoU with China
The government announced that it will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China to ensure Malaysia will be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the country once it is successfully developed.
16 November – Malaysia’s biggest cluster yet
Several COVID-19 cases were detected in one of the Top Glove dormitories in Klang and were subsequently put under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) for two weeks.
By November 27, more than 4,000 cases were linked to the Top Glove’s Teratai cluster, making it the biggest recorded cluster in the country.
The government announced the implementation of the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) at the Top Glove glove company dormitory, in Klang, Selangor. – Astro AWANI / Shahir Omar
18 November – a vaccine is on its way
US’ Pfizer announced its COVID-19 vaccine has 95% efficacy and is safe for use. Several other vaccines such as UK’s Oxford–AstraZeneca and Russia’s Sputnik V have also announced high efficacy.
28 November – 30% of Malaysians expected to be vaccinated
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that a total of 9.6 million people or 30% of Malaysia’s population are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19 next year.
The Malaysian government has made a preliminary purchase agreement with Pfizer for 12.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to cover 20% of the population and a pact with COVAX to cover another 10%.
8 December – vaccine rollout begins
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in Britain and the world to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine as the UK began its mass inoculation programme.
Other countries such as the United States, Canada, Russia, Israel as well as the European Union followed suit.
Margaret Keenan was given the vaccine by May Parsons, a matron at University Hospital in Coventry. - REUTERS
16 December – new strain of COVID-19
The UK has identified a new variant of the coronavirus that appears to spread more quickly, prompting countries to ban travel from the UK.
22 December – Malaysia expected rollout in February 2021
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that Malaysia will begin administering Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine as early as February and expected to procure enough vaccines to cover more than 80% of the population.
Earlier, the government has also signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to procure 6.4 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for 10% population, on top of the Pfizer and COVAX deal.
26 December – Malaysia highest daily case
Malaysia recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic with 2,335 infections, the highest being in Kuala Lumpur with 728 cases.
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